Sitting on the balcony with a glass of crisp white wine looking out to the Sound, you could easily be in the south of France – not Plymouth Hoe.

Once a set of table and chairs underneath a chilly canopy, Pier One is now one of the trendiest places to grab a drink or bite to eat, and boasts the most incredible view in the city.

But it wasn't long ago that owner Yasin Azizi was working as a waiter, polishing tables at the coffee shack next door.

With dreams of opening his own business, the 32-year-old worked his way up, working long hours and saving tirelessly. Now he owns one of the most stylish haunts on the waterfront.

Not only has Pier One - which started life as El Cafe - been completely revamped, it has also expanded – with a private room for functions, an outdoor seating area for sunny days and an inside room with panoramic views out to sea.

"We are no longer a cafe," said Yasin, "we are a bistro."

He said: "By developing this building, hopefully we will raise the standards on The Hoe and everyone else will need to up their game, which is really good for the city. It's what it needs."

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Yasin Azizi came to the country with nothing – now look at him (Image: Sarah Waddington)

The original plans for the site would have included two tent-like structures on top of two purpose-built pavilions. Instead, a sleek flat-roofed structure was created, with a seating area underneath and a separate room, once a changing facility for swimmers, has been converted into a function space.

A new toilet block has also been built into the pavilion, with plans to expand the venue even further in the future.

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"We had to go through a lot of obstacles with the planners and heritage teams. It was quite difficult, but we had a great team around us, and here we are.

"We hope to do more improvements in the future, including expanding the bar, creating a platform downstairs and making it a wedding venue."

The building had been empty for 20 years before it was refurbished and reopened as an eatery, but being outdoors, it always struggled when the weather turned.

Talking about how far he has come, Yasin said: "The place was empty for decades, but we turned it into a cafe. Then the idea came to put up a marquee, because on rainy days we couldn't get any business in.

"Then we came up with the idea of building something substantial, something permanent, and this was the outcome."

He added: "We have one of the best locations in the world and we did everything without compromise. We wanted everything to be the best.

"It's all about the view. You can sit here and not even look at the sea, but you can feel it is there.

"The plan is to keep developing and keep going forward. I am always thinking, 'What next?'"

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